PastCreighton is on a four-game winning streak, taking a midweek game from Kansas (12-4) on Tuesday, April 16, then sweeping the series from Southern Illinois over the weekend. Present: Friday, April 26 - Sunday, April 28Creighton plays in the TD Ameritrade Classic, hosted by Nebraska, from April 26 - 28. The Jays and Nebraska will play on Friday, April 26 (6:30 p.m.), while the Bluejays face Rutgers on April 27 and Oklahoma State on April 28.

Future The Jays host Kansas State in a midweek battle on Tuesday, April 30th at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha at 6:30 p.m. The game will be carried on Nebraska Educational Televisions (NET).

Jays vs. NebraskaLocated less than an hour apart, Creighton and Nebraska are familiar foes on the baseball field. Nebraska holds an 81-41-2 series edge on the Jays, including five of the last seven meetings. The Huskers took the three game series in 2011 & 2012 two games to one, while Creighton’s last series win came in 2010 (also 2-1). Coach Servais is 11-18 versus Nebraska in his career. When playing in Omaha, the Huskers hold a 51-13-1 edge over the Bluejays.

Scouting the Huskers (19-20, 11-4 Big Ten)Nebraska opened the 2013 season a bit sluggish, dropping its first seven games. Since that point the Huskers are 19-12, with series wins over Illinois, Northwestern, Iowa and Purdue in Big Ten play.

As a team, Nebraska is hitting .285 on the season. Senior Chad Christensen is the biggest threat in the order, leading the Huskers with a .389 average and 58 hits on the season. Batting in the cleanup spot, Christensen also leads the team with 33 runs scored and eight stolen bases.

On the mound the Huskers have a combined 4.58 ERA, but have gotten solid innings from senior Dylan Vogt and sophomore Josh Roeder out of the pen. The duo have a 2.38 and 1.37 ERA respectively, appearing in 31 games combined. Vogt leads the squad with six saves.

Defensively the Huskers have been solid, posting a .980 fielding percentage with just 30 errors in 38 games.

First Nebraska vs. Creighton Meeting CriticalSince head coach Ed Servais took over for Creighton in 2004, the team that has won the first meeting between Nebraska and Creighton has taken the series each except 2009 when only two games were played. With the first schedule meeting between Creighton and Nebraska (April 9) washed out, Friday’s contest becomes more critical.

Jays vs. RutgersCreighton and Rutgers have met just once previously, a 14-1 win for the Jays during the 1985 season.

Scouting the Scarlet Knights (20-19, 8-7 BIG EAST)Before facing the Jays on Saturday, the Scarlet Knights open the TD Ameritrade Classic against Oklahoma State on Friday afternoon.

Rutgers opened the season with two victories in its first 10 games, suffering sweeps at Miami and at Georgia Tech. The fierce competition, however, hardened a team that played its first 23 games on the road.

The Scarlet Knights opened the week with a team batting average of .271, led by sophomore Vinny Zarrillo’s .363 mark. Zarillo also leads Rutgers with eight stolen bases and 53 hits. Senior Charlie Law has been the most dangerous bat for the Scarlet Knights, collecting 31 RBI.

On the mound Rutgers has a 4.86 ERA, the Scarlet Knights are moving things around on the mound as closer Rob Corsi will make his first start of the season against Creighton. Corsi has tossed 30.2 innings in 16 appearances this season, walking 13 and striking out 21.

Jays vs. Oklahoma StateThe Cowboys lead the series with Creighton, 9-3. The two teams, however, have met just once in the past 10 seasons (under coach Servais), a 6-4 Oklahoma State win on June 1, 2007.

Scouting the Cowboys (28-11, 7-7 Big 12)The Cowboys opened the season 19-3 in their first 22 games. Since that time Oklahoma State is 9-8, inluding just 7-7 in Big 12 play. The Cowboys face Rutgers on Friday, then play two with Nebraska Saturday before closing out the TD Ameritrade Classic agains the Jays on Sunday.

OSU is scheduled to start LHP Tyler Nurdin versus Creighton. Nurdin is 0-2 with a 2.38 ERA in eight starts this year. Showing good command, Nurdin has recorded 39 strikeouts in 41.2 innings, issuing just 15 walks.

Offensively the Cowboys are hitting .292 as a team, with 23 home runs in 39 games. Junior Tanner Krietemeier and sophomore Zach Fish share the team lead with 33 RBI each. Krietemeier has a team-best .346 average, while Fish leads the Cowboys with six long balls.

Defensively Oklahoma State has committed 47 errors in 39 games (1592 chance) for a fielding percentage of .970.

Bluejay Acorns

Creighton is 8-1 in freshman Tommy Strunc’s nine starts.

The Bluejays are 9-1 in night games.

Creighton is 4-0 in midweek contests.

Creighton is 18-3 when drawing five or more walks.

The Jays are 11-1 when scoring in the first inning & 12-1 when scoring first.

The Jays is 20-1 when outhitting their opponent.

Mark Winkelman has 120 career appearances for the Jays, the rest of the Creighton bullpen (minus Strunc, & Musec) has a combined 102 appearances.

The Bluejays enter the weekend hitting .303, the second highest mark under head coach Ed Servais (.312 for the 2005 team that reached the NCAA Regionals).

Creighton pitching owns an MVC-high nine saves, the Jays had eight saves during the 2012 season.

The Jays bullpen is 13-3 with a 3.11 ERA and nine saves in 150.1 innings (52 ER) this season. The 2012 bullpen went 13-10 with a 3.50 ERA and eight saves in 236.2 innings.

Senior Brennan Murphy leads the team with six bunt singles and four outfield assists.